WINSTED >> Sixteen candidates are running for seven spots on the Board of Selectmen. For several weeks, the public has heard political banter and finger pointing from all sides. Now with about one week left until the polls open, voters need to sort through a pile of platforms in order to decide who should get the vote.

Each party has said it wants to be the one to pull the town out of its financial downturn. The Independents have made it no secret that they want to rid the town of the Democrat-ruled board and replace with individuals they think will perform their duties with more competence. The Republicans have recruited a slate with faces that are entirely new to Winsted’s political frontline. The Republicans claim that having a slate filled with fresh eyes and new ideas, makes them the party to put Winsted back on track. The Democrats, most of which are facing the brunt of criticism because of the mishaps that occurred during their last term, are defending their decisions and trying to ensure the town of a potentially promising future.

Petitioning candidate Timothy Wheeler is running on a modest campaign. He plans to support the schools, while also improving the town’s financial predicament. He has previously stated that he is interested in repairing several roads in Winsted.

The Independents formed their slate late into the summer. With David LaPointe taking the helm, the party initially wanted to endorse the Republican candidates for both Board of Selectmen and Board of Education. After being told that the Republican Party wanted to set an image of a new direction for Winsted, the Independents’ endorsement was rejected.

As a result, LaPointe rallied a five-person slate and announced their candidacy in late August. LaPointe, the vocal and enthusiastic leader of the Independents, brought with him three Republicans - Thomas Bowles, Kimberlea Wimmer and William Pratt. James Connole, Jr. and LaPointe are the only registered Independent Party candidates for the Board of Selectmen.

The party has chosen to run on a three-point plan that LaPointe said will assist Winchester in combating potential bankruptcy and future debt.

“We are running to leave things better positioned for the future of our children in Winchester,” he said. “We Independents are fiscal conservatives who believe in common sense. Common sense tells us that you can’t solve a debt crisis in Winchester with more debt or solve a spending crisis with more spending.”

The Independent slate has stated that it does not agree with the town seeking a bank loan to offset its financial problems. LaPointe said he is thinking further in the future about the effects the interest and fees will have. LaPointe said he believes in his own ideas for financing the Board of Education without grant or tax anticipation notes.

“We hope for a clean sweep of all the incumbents who have been in office too long and have been part of the mismanagement of the Town of Winchester for too long,” he said. “It is certainly time for a change.”

The party’s three-point plan involves an instituting a city-wide spending freeze in the board budget. LaPointe said his party wants to ensure the town is not spending money in any avenue. Next, the Independents want to require the department heads to make cuts they see appropriate to allow funds to be freed for the schools. Lastly, the party wants to create a private trust to help the town rebuild its general fund.

“Whereby anyone who wants to donate can donate in order to help Winchester get out of its financial troubles,” LaPointe said. “We will even ask multi-millionaire Ralph Nader to help his hometown with a donation.”

Along with accepting donations, LaPointe hopes to receive help from several union leaders. The party has also made it a point to make economic development a priority; and with the help of Pratt, a former member of the Economic Development Commission, the party says it will be able to accomplish this goal.

The Republicans have run an aggressive campaign in which they’ve held several fund raisers and mixers. They have collected cans for the soup kitchen while allowing the public the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the newcomers.

The Winsted GOP, led by former selectman and current candidate Lisa Smith, is running on a motto of “Taking Winsted in a new direction.” The party announced its five candidates in July on the same night as the Democrats.

The Board of Selectmen Republican candidates include Candace Bouchard, Dan Langer, Lisa Smith, Robert Vogt and George Pimentel.

According to Bouchard, the party wants to implement some financial accountability for the town. Along with increasing regular oversight, the party has put infrastructure and economic development high on its to-do list. The newcomers also want to restore and increase governmental transparency and reform the education system. The Republicans support a loan from the bank as long as it’s backed with a supplemental tax.

During The Gilbert School’s Board of Selectmen debate on Oct. 24, the party said it did not want to “point fingers” or “place blame.” Instead, it has been committed to distinguishing its ideas and behavior from the other parties.

“My plan for this town is to move forward,” Pimentel said. “We are in a hole to say the least but my plan is to move forward. Fix our financial issues and hold people accountable. Financial stability should be on everyone’s plan.”

The Republican’s slate is composed of a group of diverse residents who are involved in several ways around the community. Most of the GOP’s candidates have lived in the town for substantially less time than candidates from other parties. But for them this provides the edge.

“Our path forward for Winchester begins by ending political bickering and political grandstanding that hurts our community’s reputation, destabilizes our finances, blocks economic investments and discourages municipal volunteerism,” said Vogt who is a father of two children in the local school system.

The Democrats have spent a great deal of their campaign defending and explaining current and past decisions. Because of this, the incumbents have tried to increase the public’s knowledge about the work they’ve been doing while still seated.

The three Democratic incumbents, Althea Candy Perez, Michael Renzullo, and George Closson, have brought with them two individuals that have worked with the town in other capacities. Virginia Shultz-Charette is currently the vice-chair of the Soldiers Monument and Loretta Tremblay has worked with the Energy Commission.

“The main focus of our attention has to be the fiscal calamity brought on by the alleged larceny by a trusted employee at town hall and by the decimation of the fund balance by the Republicans in 2007,” Charette said.

The Democratic party said it was responsible for catching the alleged crimes of the former finance director, Henry Centrella, who is accused of embezzling at least $2.5 million in taxpayer’s money.

The party takes credit for the catching the alleged theft and said it is the best party to develop on any further progression.

The Democrats have devised a plan that they say has be implemented for some time. While continuing to work with Town Manager Dale Martin and current Finance director Robin Manuele, the Democrats are planning to take out a short-term grant anticipation note from a bank to assist the school during its December cash crunch. The party has stated it is against a supplemental tax. The party also supports economic development as well as repairing infrastructure.

As the party’s leader and spokesperson, Perez said the Democrats have always been in favor of supporting the education system.

“I have been conscientious of my duties and committed to the greater good,” she said. “I have been a steadfast supporter of education, seniors, emergency services, and town staff. I have supported numerous community events.”

Perez said she doesn’t think the voters should falter during the town’s hardships.

“Now is not the time to change leadership and reverse course as we have made significant steps forward and will continue to do so,” she said. “I am proud of our accomplishments. Our majority matters.”

Advertisement

About the Author

Reporter Mercy Quaye covers statewide breaking news for The New Haven Register, The Middletown Press, and The Register Citizen. Reach the author at mquaye@registercitizen.com
or follow Mercy A. on Twitter: @Mrs_WriteNow.